Chapter 59

Tina: everyone, I’d like you to meet my best friend for life, Bette Porter

And she smiled bright..

Bette: hi everyone!

And she looked at everybody on the table.. Tina’s mum and dad and her brother Michael.. Grandma Maria.. a baby boy and a few others she didn’t know yet..

She nodded, smiled to the little kid and waved.. Paul saw the gesture and let out a hearty laugh. His plump cheeks made him absolutely adorable and Bette said: ‘aaahww he’s so cute!’

.. and everybody laughed and agreed!

Tina watched the scene in front of her and felt relieved inside.. Bette felt at ease around her family and she didn’t see any bad faces around the table yet..

Tina: Bette.. as you know this is my grandmother Maria.. next to her is Jeron.. Martin’s brother.. and that is uncle Jan, who lives in that house (pointing the other house on the farm) together with aunt Amanda and Paul.

The family members said hello to Bette and they sat down around the breakfast table.. Tina sat down between Bette and baby Paul and she placed a big kiss on his cheek

Tina: hello beautiful baby, how’s breakfast huh? Jummy jummy?

Paul: jummy!!

And he opened his mouth to show her his breakfast..

Tina giggled and said: ‘come on, big boy, swallow.. yes! Good! Just like that..

Bette looked with awe to Tina who had this control over the young kid. Suddenly it hit her.. Tina would make a lovely mum.. of her children.. their children.. she had this feeling inside that made her totally at ease with the thought of having children with Tina.. Starting a family together and grow old together..

She smiled and laid her hand under table on Tina’s thigh.. she slowly stroke it and gave it a gentle pinch.. Tina turned her head and smiled. She knew what Bette was thinking and made a mental note to talk about it later.. when they were alone..

Breakfast was nice.. Bette looked around and took the whole scene in.. Here.. on the veranda of a beautiful house on the farm.. a huge table with half the family and her lovely girlfriend who was so free around here.. Bette felt lucky.. lucky to be a part of this. She talked to every single person on the table and she laughed a lot. They had asked her questions, some were easier to answer then others.. but she tried to answer them all..

There was one question about her mother.. Grandma had asked her about her study and said: ‘I’m sure your mum is very proud of you!’. Bette hadn’t said anything back and grandma asked: ‘she is, right?’

And Bette had answered: ‘I don’t know..’ and she looked down.. Her finger circling the top of her tea glass..

Tina sensed that Bette became uncomfortable.. she had listened to the conversation with half an ear and she said: ‘Grandma.. I don’t think Bette wants to talk about her mum..’

She locked eyes with Bette for a moment and Bette nodded..

Tina: Bette doesn’t speak to her mum very often.. Her parents divorced when she was really young.. and her mum lives in New York..

Everyone at the table became quiet and Bette looked up.. she nodded and tried to smile.. she said: ‘but my dad is.. He’s very proud of me!’ And she smiled bright at the memory of her dad.. being all alone at home..

She missed him..

Tina tapped her thigh softly and soon the table was filled with laughing again..

Martin shouted over the table: hey Chrissy, wanna ride around on the farm after breakfast? Let’s check up everything huh?

He winked and Tina laughed..

Tina: ohw yeah let’s do it!

tbc